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| Urge SED to Preserve Standards Regarding Involvement of IEP Team Members May 2005 NYSUT is urging local leaders and members to speak out at State Education Department hearings in May on proposals to meet the new requirements in the IDEA of 2004. NYSUT First Vice President Maria Neira especially wants union members to address proposals that could exclude certain members — including teachers and school psychologists — from IEP teams. In May SED will be holding public meetings and discuss proposed regulatory changes. A copy of the proposed regulations are available at www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/timely.htm. NYSUT recently provided recommendations to SED regarding New York 's implementation of the new requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004. Consistent with her advocacy on the federal level, Neira strongly urged SED to continue to assure that teachers, school psychologists, and other service providers are not excluded from IEP meetings. She further urged that the state maintain the current membership of the Committee on Special Education including the school psychologists. During the next several months, SED will propose legislative and regulatory changes to conform New York state's requirements to the IDEA. Neira will provide comments to SED on the proposed regulations. In addition, she urges local leaders and members to express their views on the proposal especially on those provisions concerning excluding members from Committee on Special Education meetings involving their curriculum or related service. NYSUT will make available talking points and assist members in structuring their comments. For more information, contact Larry Waite from NYSUT Research at lwaite@nysutmail.org. In addition, you are also encouraged to contact your state legislator to oppose excluding IEP team members from Committee on Special Education meetings through NYSUT's Legislative Action Web site at http://politicalaction.nysut.org/fax/fax.asp?func=select& Once on this page, select "Oppose Exclusion of IEP Team Members (IDEA Reauthorization)." Public comment on the proposed regulations will be accepted until July 23; written comment may be sent to: VESID, Special Education Policy and Partnership Unit or through the internet at http://discus.nysed.gov/cgi-bin/discus-mando/discus.cgi. The public meetings will be held: Long Island Albany Syracuse New York City Please check the State Education Department's Web site at the following links for time and place. |
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